COLUMBUS, Ohio — Indictments were returned Wednesday against 40 people who face charges related to the possession and distribution of methamphetamine and other drugs.
Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien said the investigation led to the seizure of more than five pounds of crystal meth with a value of more than $225,000 — the largest amount of the drug ever seized in Franklin County, 10TV’s Chuck Strickler reported.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 26 of the 40 suspects had been taken into custody.

“There is no particular neighborhood; it’s all over Columbus,” said Columbus police Lt. Larry Yates. “We have tried 60 to 70 addresses and we’ve gotten well over half our suspects.”

The indictments and apprehensions came after an investigation that started more than a year ago. Yates said that Columbus was used as a base for the distribution of meth to other locations in central Ohio.

“We have a total of eight counties involved, where suspects lived (and) would come to Columbus to get the meth or deliver meth, and then go back to their counties,” he said.

Aside from meth, investigators said they seized cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and marijuana, along with more than $100,000 in cash and 15 firearms, Strickler reported.

They also recovered seven gallons of a chemical that is used to make GHB, which is known more commonly as the “date rape” drug.

“Hopefully it will make an impact,” O’Brien said. “Unfortunately, when you arrest 40 people like this, there are too often someone standing behind them, ready to step up and take their place.”